When the Terra Nova boy’s varsity basketball team opens its 2012 season next week, it will find itself playing in a new league.

By a decision of peninsula coaches it was decided to break away from the power alignment of the last several years and go back to the old geographical North and South divisions of the Peninsula Athletic League.

Terra Nova will join with six other teams in the North Division. Joining Terra Nova will be Oceana, Jefferson, Westmoor, El Camino, South San Francisco and Half Moon Bay. The 10 teams comprising the South Division are Capuchino, Mills, Burlingame, San Mateo, Aragon, Hillsdale, Carlmont, Sequoia, Menlo-Atherton and Woodside.

“I’m pleased to see the old North back in business. Over the years, there had been some great rivalries that consistently took place and we’ll see the revival of those wars once again,” said Terra Nova varsity head coach Kenny Milch.

As far as the San Mateo County post season tournament is concerned, there will also be a change. Instead of a 16 team, four day format, it will be reduced to eight teams and three days. Four teams from the North and four from the South will play in cross bracket seeded match-ups

Terra Nova’s varsity team lost a close game to a very talented Alumni squad 54-49 last Wednesday night.

The Tigers were led by Jaylend Jones, James O’Brien and Gabe Vargas who all had 10 points apiece. After leading by five points in the first quarter, Terra Nova trailed by as many as 11 in the second half. The Tigers finally reclaimed the lead 49-48 with a minute left but went scoreless down the stretch.

Next up for the Tigers is a scrimmage at home against King’s Academy on Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. followed by the Burlingame Tournament Dec 5, 6 and 7.